In the NSA, Ambramoff and Alito coverage on the TV, a consistent meme issues from all the comentators: Every statement by Democrats, the correspondents suggest cynically, is merely "playing politics," while every statement by Republicans, even when obviously political, is likely "the execution of a strategy" which the correspondents suggest with a wink and a nod "may well work to win over the American people."
How can we break through this? The lesson at face value would be that Democrats should just forget about "political" considerations and be entirely direct, while Republicans should continue to make
everything political, damn reality. The media loved Dean for being a Democrat who'd learned that lesson and spoke directly; and then once they'd ditched him as crazy for speaking too directly, Kerry by contrast couldn't but seem guilty of indulging political consideration. The lesson taken — as much as some of us might favor it — was fatal that time around.
When everything said by Democrats is framed as being primarily in bad faith, said for effect rather than principle, and everything said by Republicans, even when obviously for effect, is presumed to be for true principles even if those principles are only served through dissemblance (the simple-minded people must, after all, be led), Democrats appear impotent, without spine — even our internal criticism shows this conclusion is accepted.
I wish we had the knife to cut through this conventional delusion. It has incredible power, it possesses the minds of the Washington bureau members of every network. Any ideas on where that knife can be found, and what stone to hone it on?